Edward, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today? I had been in the car industry for about 7 years prior. I was laid off and went on unemployment. We had been in the midst of renovating our home we purchased in 2002. I had some construction experience from working with my late father back in my 20’s. My wife suggested I take a 2 week crash course on entrepreneurship offered by the unemployment agency, and go into business on my own. During the class I wrote up a comprehensive business plan, got started with $5000, a used van, old tools and an overpriced ad on the Yellow Pages. With that I kick started my new business in 2004.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? Finding work and building a client base had been difficult. The Yellow page ad did not bring in many customers. My wife and I would scour the newspaper real estate section for folks who had recently purchased home and send out tons of marketing mailers. Winters were definitely a huge struggle the first few years before I was able to establish the client base. I also started off doing a lot of handyman type positions. I also had difficulties finding the right and reputable people to work with me on projects. It took many years to build up my network and find the right guy to work for me.

We’d love to hear more about your business. My business is a general contracting business focused on kitchen and bath remodels. We also build decks, and any type of home improvement/remodeling. I am most proud of the quality I put on my work. I am all about attention to details. My wife always jokes about how I find flaw where no one even pays attention.

What were you like growing up? I started working at the age of 12, owning my own paper route. I made enough money for a down payment for my mother’s house that she still lives in today. I held the biggest route in my town (60 customers) until I was 16. Then I worked at local gas stations pumping gas. Most of the summers where spent hanging out with the neighborhood kids and playing baseball or kick the can along with building forts and hunting for snakes in the fields that are now overwhelmed with new condos.

Pricing:

The average bathroom remodel starts at around $16,000-$18,000 with tile. Remember cost of tile affects overall price

The average kitchen remodel with cabinets and appliances will range $30,000 – $60,000. Again depends on what you are picking for material.

Raw, unfiltered creative expression – from stories and photographs to illustrations and paintings – is at the heart of the BostonVoyager. ...

Local StoriesSeptember 14, 2018

BostonVoyager is part of the LA-based Voyage Group of Magazines. Our mission is to promote mom and pops, artists, creatives, makers and small businesses by providing a platform for these hidden gems to tell their stories in their own words.